Profession of Faith and Regenerate Church Membership

Baptist Faith and Practice – Survey Question – Regenerate Church Membership.

If your Baptist Church requires a profession of faith to be received as a member: (1) Would your church receive the following profession? (2) Why or why not? Please give any biblical reasoning for your answer.

I don’t know when I was saved. I was raised in a Christian home and I don’t remember ever not believing in Jesus Christ. However, I believe in the work of regeneration by the Spirit. I think that the work of the Spirit on my heart was evident by when I was about 14 or 15 years old. That’s when I can remember having independent affections for God – having a desire to read my Bible and pray, for example. I didn’t have a conversion experience particularly. I professed faith and was baptized when I was eight years old, but if the new covenant birth is a change of heart, for me that happened at about 14 or 15 years old.

RULES/REQUESTS.

1. JUST GIVE YOUR ANSWER AND REASONING. DON’T DEBATE WITH OTHER COMMENTERS.

2. IF YOU’RE NOT BAPTIST, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN INTERESTING REPLY – BUT THIS IS A SURVEY OF BAPTIST PRACTICE. PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.

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Note: Awhile back I posted the above survey on Facebook. The background source is as follows.

3:28 “I was saved – I don’t know when. I don’t remember ever disbelieving in Christ. I was raised in a Christian home and I’m very grateful for that. But I believe in the work of regeneration by the spirit. And the only (and I put a lot of work into Piper and therefore back into Edwards and ultimately Augustine and Paul and Jesus). I did my dissertation on Paul’s positive religious affections. So, I think that the work of the spirit on my heart was evident by about 14 or 15. That’s when I remember having independent affections for God, wanting to read my Bible in halting ways, wanting to pray. Uh, I don’t – I didn’t have a conversion experience really. I mean, I professed faith and was baptized at eight. But if the new covenant is a change of heart – Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36 – that happened at about 14 or 15 for me.” Mark Ward testimony on Room For Nuance podcast. This is not a comment on whether or not Mark Ward is converted. However, it recognizes that most churches with whom I have been associated would not receive that sort of profession of faith. Most who commented on Facebook also agreed.

Testimony of D. R. Murphy

Testimony of D. R. MURPHY (1802-1875)
Pioneer of the Baptist Cause in Southwest Missouri

D. R. Murphy grew up amidst evil companions and customs, and he became a willing participant in drinking, dancing, card playing, etc. He was converted in 1832 at age 20. He says, “While under conviction, I retired to the lonely grove between sunset and dark, and while prostrate on my guilty breast, pleading with the Lord for the salvation of my soul, I saw that my condemnation was just, and thought surely hell was my doom. I resolved to resign myself to the will of God without reserve. This done, ere I was aware, I felt something with the speed of lightning, as it were, flash over me; my feelings were strange indeed, all was peace, and while I mused the fire of God’s eternal love kindled within me, and I leaped from the earth joyful and happy.”

Originally from The History of the Polk County Baptist Association by J. W. Haines, as published in The Baptist Waymark, Vol. IV, No. 1, Jan-Feb 1996, p. 4

There is a period

There is a period known to God
When all his sheep redeemed by blood;
Shall leave the hateful ways of sin
Turn to the fold, and enter in.

At peace with hell, with God at war
In sin's dark maze they wander far;
Indulge their lusts and still go on
As far from God as sheep can run.

But see how heav'n's indulgent care
Attends their wand'rings here and there;
Still near at hand, where'er they stray
With piercing thorns to hedge their way.

Glory to God--they ne'er shall rove
Beyond the limits of His love;
Fenced with Jehovah's shalls and wills
Firm as the everlasting hills.

Th' appointed time rolls on apace
Not to promise, but call by grace;
To change the heart, renew the will
And turn their feet to Zion's hill.

John Kent (1766-1843)

Success.

Conversion is God's success and not our own.

Regeneration and conversion

"Regeneration and conversion are not the same thing. Regeneration is God giving life. Conversion is the regenerated man turning to God and obeying Him. Baptism is part of conversion."

-- Michael J. Hanschen New Covenant Christian Forum, Mon, 27 Aug 2007

Agree or disagree?